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Saddling Your Horse - English
http://www.horsemanshiphorsetrainingtips.com/articles/91/1/Saddling-Your-Horse---English
Kelly Bell
Kelly's knowledge of horses grew in local 4-H and open shows competing in Western pleasure, Western equitation, English Pleasure, English Equitation, Trail, Showmaship and Halter classes. Kelly competed with two horses over her showing career; a sorrel Quarter Horse mare, Double D Fashion and a Sorrel Overo Paint mare, Little Partee Sis. 
By Kelly Bell
Published on 02/1/2006
 

When saddling, it is important that you tie your horse securely with a halter - NEVER tie a horse with the bridle reins. Before saddling, groom your horse well to remove all bedding (like straw or shavings), dirt and debris from the coat. Be sure to brush the back, withers and girth area before saddling your horse.

English Saddling

  1. Before saddling, make sure that your stirrup irons are pushed all the way up and the girth is undone on both sides and lying across the saddle seat, dirty side up and the buckles tucked into the irons.

  2. Hold the saddle on your left arm with the pommel facing towards your elbow.

  3. Standing at your horses left shoulder. With your right hand, lay the saddle pad over your horses back, making sure that the pad is flat and the straps are on top.

  4. Slide the saddle pad in place by pulling slightly backwards (in the direction of the horses hair).

  5. With your right hand on the cantle and your left hand on the pommel, grasp the saddle and place it on the saddle pad.

  6. Attach the straps of the saddle pad to the girth straps on both sides of the saddle and check that the knee rolls and saddle flaps are flat on both sides.

  7. Slide the saddle and adjust the pad so that there is no friction or pressure over the withers.

  8. On the right side, fasten the end of the girth to the girth straps on the saddle.

  9. Return to the left side and stand at your horses shoulder. Grasp the loose end of the girth with your left hand.

  10. Pull the girth through the loop of your martingale or breastplate (if you use one). These loops should be positioned at the center of the girth.

  11. Bring the girth up and buckle it on the left side, tightening it slightly. Make sure you tighten it again before mounting.

Unsaddling

  1. Push up both stirrup irons as high as possible on the stirrup leathers and pull the leathers through the irons.

  2. Unbuckle the girth on both sides, lay it over the saddle seat (dirty side up) and pass the ends through the irons on each side.

  3. Remove the saddle and saddle pad together, lifting them off your horse.

  4. Store your saddle with the pad on top, dirty side up so that it can dry before the next use.

Author

Kelly Bell's (nee: Ashbacher) knowledge of horses grew in local 4-H and open shows competing in Western pleasure, Western equitation, English Pleasure, English Equitation, Trail, Showmaship and Halter classes. Kelly competed with two horses over her showing career; a sorrel Quarter Horse mare, Double D Fashion and a Sorrel Overo Paint mare, Little Partee Sis.